Game Day: Russell Athletic Bowl

Consider this post the open thread for today's game. You're invited to leave your thoughts in the comments below. Most of us have been working on a holiday schedule, so after the jump are a bunch tidbits and reads found elsewhere on the Interwebs that you might have missed while on vacation. Before proceeding, Box 'shopped another masterpiece.

• Final analysis: Thomas has had to do everything for Virginia Tech's offense this season. He leads the Hokies in both rushing and passing. If freshman tailback J.C. Coleman can't gain some yards to lighten Thomas' workload, Virginia Tech could struggle. Meanwhile, the Hokies' defense will have to slow Jamison. This is the same unit that gave up 157 yards to Pittsburgh's Rushel Shell and 262 yards to North Carolina's Giovani Bernard. If they bottle up Jamison, then the Hokies have a better chance to force Rutgers quarterback Gary Nova -- who threw five interceptions in the Scarlet Knights' final three games -- into making a mistake. If Jamison is picking up consistent yardage, Nova should be able to take advantage of one-on-one matchups on the outside.

• The pick: Rutgers 24, Virginia Tech 20

Busts in man coverage have been our downfall a few times this season.

SBNation.com's Bill Connelly wrote an in-depth preview. One pick had Tech winning, the other losing, either way it's projected as a close game that could be decided by a big play.

Virginia Tech won two games scoring 24 points or fewer and played in 10 games that saw 55 or fewer total points scored. For Rutgers, those numbers are six and 10, respectively. In fact, there haven't been more than 37 points scored in a Rutgers game since October. A single long pass to Brandon Coleman, Marcus Davis or Corey Fuller ... a single defensive breakdown in a run by Jawan Jamison, Logan Thomas or Random Tech running back ... that could make the difference in the game.

He's harped on it all season long, but Bud Foster again mentioned Tech needed to limit big plays.

"We've got to stop the run. We've got to eliminate their big plays," Foster said before the Hokies practice Tuesday at the Citrus Bowl. "Short pass plays, they can turn them into big plays. The run game and passing game complement each other."

Comments

as of right now, i'm picking the sunj to win. our hokies just havent shown me much to think they can beat a nine win team. but that opinion will probably change several times during the course of the day. by kickoff i'll probably be pretty hammered and sure of a tech victory.

either way, LETS GO!!!!!!

"I promise you I will keep getting back up as long as you keep pushing forward." -Michael Brewer
"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

Of course he fails to mention the more recent games regarding VT's Rush defense of holding Clemson to under 100 yards, and FSU to negative rush yards.. Don't think he really has payed much attention to us and his analysis is a bit off. Here's another tidbit. Graham rushed for 172 yards against Notre Dame... Pitt can run the football on anyone, and the same goes for UNC. There is no way in hell that Jamison and the Rutgers O-line is as good as either of those two teams.

I've heard from many people within the Tech program that is seems like the players couldn't care less to be there right now. I hope that's incorrect, but this team has failed to show up in several games this year. You'd think they'd be pumped up for a bowl game and all, but it's the Russell Athletic Bowl for a team that is used to BCS bowls and the occasional Chick-Fil-A Bowl. Plus, there probably won't be much of a crowd to this game either, and we've seen how this team performs in places without that many people watching (Pitt, Miami, BC, etc.). If we build momentum early, Logan makes good decisions, one of our community of running backs gets something going on the ground, our defense makes a couple of stops, and we don't do anything stupid on special teams, we should win this game. Then again, that's a lot to ask for from a team that went 6-6 and barely beat two teams who aren't going to a bowl game just to get into a bowl game.

we know Logan can play but when you have no o line or running backs how can you be good. look at what he did last year with David. ill never call for leal over Thomas but I understand how his inconsistencies could make people call for it

These Hokies, not just the coaches are pathetic, straight up. There is no excuse for the lack of effort by the entire offense tonight. Defense is doing the best they can after being on the field the whole damn half. Unless the defense scores two tds, count it up as a loss. Fire everybody on the offensive side of the ball as soon as the clock hits 0.

Start and ends with head coach, same old crap from Beamer year after year especially in bowl games. Unprepared bunch of over rated coaches and it bleeds down to the players. Time to seriously think about replacing Logan Thomas and Frank Beamer

Logan is not the problem im so tired of Thomas taking so much blame for shitty coaching, I was at the miami game last year iv seen in person what Logan can do with talent around him! Time to fire Ocain, demote Stinespring and hire The Fridge!

Is he even playing tonight? Keep seeing him on the field. But he's walking around and not really playing. The OL and QB play is the worst thing I've ever seen. Comical how poorly coached these guys are. Comically bad.

Heard Sherman is staying. LT is going pro (as a TE). BS recruiting coordinator. Newsome retiring (health/heart). Ocain retiring. Waiting until after bowl to announce as their contracts give them bonuses if they coach the game.

i'm pumped we won but seriously the entire offensive staff should be canned.

"I promise you I will keep getting back up as long as you keep pushing forward." -Michael Brewer
"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

I guess its kind of a moot point since we got the win anyways, but can someone explain to me why that flag got picked up on Rutgers' recovered fumble TD? Watching it in real time, it looked like they came across early (possibly why the snap was bad). Obviously one of the refs agreed with me because a flag was thrown. I never saw a replay or heard an explanation for why that flagged was picked up. Felt like it kinda got swept under the rug.